Vehicle-body suspension



UNITE WILLIAM D. HARPER, OF

D STATES NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VEHICLE-BODY SUSI'PENSION.

reissue filed February 23,`

To all who/11iy 'it may concern: i

Be it known that l. Vlf'iLLrAu l). HARPER l a citizen of the United States, formerly a.

resident of' San Antonio, in the' county' ot Bexar and State of Texas, and nou' a resident ofl Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefull lmprovements in Vehicle-Body Suspensions. of which the following' is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle body suspensions, an object of' the invention being' to provide an improved construction and arrangement of parts Vwhich will permit a limited swing in all directions of the body on its supporting chassis.

A further object is to provide improved coupling means connecting the body and chassis which will take up shocks and jars, and prevent body.

A .further construction object is to improve uponthe disclosed in my application for patent filed June 20, 1919, and given Serial Number 305,525. subsequently vember 2, 1920, No. 1,357,497.

lith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. A

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in end elevation illustrating my improvements.

Figure 2 is a broken view tion.

Figure 3 is an enlarged viewin section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure #1 is an enlarged on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

17 1 represent the longitudinal bars of a. chassis across which tubulargtransverse positioned supporting' members 2 are located and secured on the bars 1 by means ot U- bolts 3.

U-bolts 3 are provided at both sides of the bars 1 and at their upper ends straddle. the tubes. s of the U-bolts 3 in side` elevaview in section The lower end are projected through perforated plates 5 below the bars 1, and secured in place by means of nuts 6, thereby securely clampingr the tubes form, in effect, fixed parts of the chassis.

l represents the body,

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent.

transmission of the same to the l patented No- I l on the bars 1. so that said tubes or platform thereof,

iteissuea .Api-.18, 1922.

rial No. 378,445, led May 3, 1920. Application for 1922. Serial No. 538,777.

supported on longitudinal bars '7, and the latter secured across transveisaly positioned bars 8.

T he bars 8 are arranged in pairs, as shown clearly in Figure 3, and have depending blocks t) at their ends.

T uhes 10 are secured to the bearing blocks 9 by means of, screws 11 projected through the tubes 10 and screwed into the. blocks 9; or any other form ot' securing means may be employed. i

It will be noted. particularly by reference to Figure 4, that the tubes 2 project beyond the bars 1, and that the tubes 1Y0 are located under, and :t right angles to the projecting ends of tube 2.

T wisted links 11, constituting hangers, are

supported on the tubes 2 and in tur1rsup port the tubes 10 and the vehicle body 4.

The tubes 2 may be considered as generically the hanger ab'utxnents of the chassis, and may be called for brevity` cbassisabutments, While the tubes 10 similarly may be considered the hanger abutments of the body, and briefly designated body abutments.

The tubes 2 are of. appreciably greater diameter than tubes 10 and the links or hanojeis 11 at their ends are of 'appreciab y greater diameter than the tubes, so that said links are permitted a 'limited swaying or rocking movement on the said tubes, thus reducing slip to the minimum.

U-shaped rivets or staples 12 and. 13 are secured in the tubes 2 and 10 respectively, and at their ends are positioned. around the links 1.1 to hold the parts in proper relative position.

By reason of the construct-ion above de scribed, the body 1 is supported entirely at its four corners, by the links or hangers 1 and the tubes 2 and 10 which are coupled Yby said hangers, not only giveV a 'maximum strength and durability to the structure, but permit a. swaying motion to permit the load to ride easily on the chassis, and absorb a large portion of the shocks. and jars that would otherwise be transmitted to the body and load thereon.

The function and result ot the above'described rocking movement of the links on the tubes is that when the body nioves orivardly or rearwardly with respect to the chassis, the upper loops of the links roll on the tubes 2; .and when the body'moves side- Awise the lower loops roll about the tubes are l() coincidentally with the shifting ot the latter tubes. .i Y ot the linls with the tubes` arc sluited; that betweenthe upper loop and the tube i '5 shittingi `oppositely to the direction of swing, i `\rh'ereby the highest point ot' the link is raised above thetube: and that between the lower;loop"I and theitube shifting in the `directionvoi swingtoivard what then be*- coines the upper side ot' the loop, Where-,oy the loivefst point otfthe latter tube is raised above its previous pointot' contact with said vrloop., Hence the movement of the body in any direction Iirom'its normal positionl ot rest (i. e.. that assumed when the vehicle 'isstationaryand'its Wheel base level) is ac- `cc'nnpaiiiefdfnotmerely by rise of theibody, but by i. rise which is greater and progresi y sivelymorerapid thanivould be the case if the swinginginovement `took place about a fixed "center at tliehighest pointof the tube l2 onia radius'of fixed length equal to the distance between the suspension points of the in jthenormal `position ofi-est. 2B 'A lirothelr Words` each point of suspension of thefbody, when swinging in any direction i from said position of rest, moves in a path which; at'the beginning is horizontal but in its"f'oiiter part-s "rises with a` constantly shorteningradius of curvature. yThe outer portions1 of fsu'ch path thus depart in yincreasingir 'measure from the circumference ofv ,thev circle ivhoseradius is the distance be tween thetangent points of the links in the normal/position of rest and Whose center is the highest point of the tube 2. An imffportant l'practical advantage results from this factA in that,since the first part of the move-` ment oftliebody from its normal position of 'rest -i'sin acomparatively fiat arc of long radius', ofwhich the approximately horizon-` tal portion' extends for an appreciable distance, gravity opposes no substantial resistance to the initiation of motion of the loaded bodyrelatively to the "chassis, but `Withffurthermotion the body rises so rapidly thatgravity checksitrbefore the displacement has become excessive. That is, ab sence of resistance to initialk relative motion, lconfinement of the total motion Within relatively narrow limits, and arrest without shock rof .a motion of any extent, are accomplished by' this simple device.

:By appropriately designing the form 'of the coacting opposed faces oi!` the tubes and `hanger loops, and theamonnt and character oi" divergence of these coacting `faces from "oneanotlier, the "proportion of the entire path ofswing of the body which issubstantiallyvfflat, and the proportion of that part which rises rapidly, and the extent ot such` rise may be more or less varied. y

Infthe following claims the term chassis is to be construed` as embracing the subsidiaiy or under frame, however it may be Thus the points of taugt-ucv time-the dist ments it is obvious th nections might may be desired.

the general sub-frame and versely positioned of the before In y, cle combination,

members on the other of said element-s, that member Which-Fis connected to the body passmember which .is connected and a hanger surrounding ing `beneath that to the chassis,

those parts of the cross one another arranged across a with the upper si and the term l rying member` lollyvincludes any load-carhowever constructed, which is adapted to` be suliiported on such chassis by hangers. B luik surroundin 10. or equivalently as embraces them and engages the top side of the chassis abutment oi' the body abutment, in the direction of compactness, and economy abutments may Vtor stiffness a time be placed contained in restricted spaces,I at the saine ance between the points of their engagement with the hanger is to give the effect of initial swing` on a fiat arc of long radius Without requiring any Wide space between the cooperating .abutand the hanger the utmost. simplicity capable of being made at minimum cost. i

lVhile I have described the body as my improved mounting at the four corners,

at any number of such con- Various slight What I claim nd strengthk y makingr the hanger as a e' the abutment tubes 2 and a rigidpiece which and the bottom side an important result simplicity obtained; for the hanger be madesuiiciently large and at the same close together and thereby long enough itseltl is a member' of having employed and located as changes might be made in form and arrangement of the parts described Without departing from my invention, and hence to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such'slight changes and alterations, the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For instance, the link 2 and l0 lier'ein-v shown tubes, may be otherwise vided they afford provision for rockingir of the links, herein described, are I'ireterred in this combine rigidity with lightness.

I do not limit myself as fairly fall Within engaging members and described as constructed pro although tubes situation because they and desire to secure by 1.' The combination in a vehicle with a g across, under and in with the body-connected abutment.

2. The combination with body, of transversely positioned tubes on superposed body, of transablltmellt HIGIIIbQI'S O11 011B entioned elements of the vehilongitiidinally arranged abutment members which and having its upper part nd in rocking engagement n de of the cl'iassisconnected abutment member and its opposite part exrocking engagea chassis and a 55 ment of the body the chassis, longitudinally positioned tubes secured at the corners of the body, twisted links` supported at one end on the lirst mentioned tubes and having a rock-I ing motion thereon, and said last-mentioned tubes mounted in the lower ends of the links and having rocking Inotion therein.

3. The combination with a chassis and a body. of transversely positioned' tubes on the chassis, longitudinally positioned tubes secured at the corners of the body, twisted links supported at one end on the first men. tioned tubes and having a rocking motion thereon, said last-mentioned tubes mounted in the lower ends of the links, and U-shaped devices secured in the tubes and' engaging the links.

4. The combination with a chassis, a body, pairs of transverse 'bars on the body, and blocks on the lower faces of the bars, of tubes connecting the blocks and secured thereto, transverse tubes secured on the chassisand .projecting beyond the sides of the latter,

and link hangers on the last-mentioned tubes and supporting the first-mentioned tubes?l 5. In a vehicle having a chassis c lement and a body element, hanger abutments on said chassis and body elements, respectively arranged to cross one another with the chassis abutment above the other, and a ,-hanger embracing said abutments and having rocking engagement with each.

o'. In a vehicle having a chassis element and a body element, hanger abutments on said chassis vand body elements arranged with the chassis abutment above the other, and a hanger suspended from the chassis abutment and supporting the body abutment constructed and arranged to swing the body in an upwardly curved path, the curvature of which departs upwardly from the arc of a circlel wh'ose radius is the distance between the points of engagement of the abutments with the hanger in the position of rest, and whose center is the normal suspension point of the hanger on the chassis abutment.

'i'. In a vehicle, thel combination, with a chassis or base construction and a body, of hanger abutments mounted upon the body and chassis, respectively, with that on the body below the corresponding one on the chassis, a hanger suspended from the chassis abutment and supporting the body abutment, the abutments and hanger being complementally so formed as to canse the suspended abutment when swinging from its normal position of rest to rise in a curved path having a progressively shorter radius of curvature.

8. In a vehicle, the combination with a chassis and a superposed body. of supporting means interposed-between the chassis and body constructed to permit lateral moveand cause such movement abutmenton the chassis to take' place in an upwardly curved path having a progressively shortening radius of curvature.

9. In a vehicle, chassis or base construction abutment, and a body also having a hanger abutment arranged beneath the chassis abutment, and a hanger consisting of a single member embracing both abutments and engaging the upper side of the chassis abutment and the lower side of the body abutment', and adapted to rock on each.

10. In a vehicle, the combination with a chassis or base construction having a hanger abut-ment, and a body also having a hanger abutment arranged beneath the chassis abutment, thechassis abutment having an upper curved engaging surface and the body abutment having a lower curved engaging surface, and a hanger comprising a single rigid member having an upper portion engaging said upper curved surface and a lower portio'n engaging said lower curved surface, the said portions of the hanger diverging from the combination with a the surfaces with which they are respectively engaged.

- l1. In a vehicle, the combination with a chassis or base construction having a hanger abutment, and a body also having a hanger abutment arranged beneath the chassis abutment, the chassis abutment having an upper rock on each of said surfaces, and the hanger and abutments being further so con;

Ast-ructed and arranged as to permit rocking movement in directions respectively transverse to those of the `first-named rocking movements.

12. In a vehicle, the combination with a chassis or base frame and a body, of a hanger abutment on the chassis having an upper curved supporting face, a hanger abutmentsecured to the body .and having a lower curved hanger engaging face below the said supporting face of the chassis abutment and the axis of which is transverse to the axis of the first curved surface, and a hanger having an upper portion crossing the curved surface of the chassis abutment and adapted to rock thereon and thereacross, said hanger having a lower portion which is transverse to said upper portion and crosses in rocking engagement with the under curved face of the body abutment.

13. In a vehicle, chassis or base frame and a the combination with a body, of a hanger having an upper having a hangererp-ved `supporting tace. a hanger abutment secured to the body and having `a lower cur'ved hanger engaging face below thefsaid supporting" face ot' the chassis abutment and the axis ojt' which substantially at right ,angles to thevaxis of the first curved surface, and a. hanger having an upper 'loop crossing the curved surface ot the chassis abutment and adapted to rock thereon and there-across.` said hanger having a lowerv loop the bottom part ofwvhieh 1s approximately" i at right angles to the top of the upper loop and crosses in rocking engagement with the under `curved face of the body abutment, those parts of the hanger which respectively engage the said abutment faces being formed to diverge from lsaid faees, whereby in rook-` ing oyer faces their respective tangent points are shifted.

14. In a vehicle, the combination with the chassis and body 'of such vehicle, each having hanger abutments, with the abutments of the body arrangeclbelow those of the chassis,

and hangers embracing each cooperating pair of said abutments and engaging the upper side of the chassis abutment and the lower side of the body abutment, said abutments having means for preventing displacement of the hangers. y

`15. In a vehicle, the combination with the chassis and a body, of tubes forming hanger abutments connected to the. body and chassis, respectively, and extending transversely to one another with the tube so connected to the body arranged belovsT those connected to the chassis, hangers supported on the upper sides of the ehassis'connected tubes and underlying and engaging the under sides of the body connected tubes, and holding members on said tubes respectively engagingthe hangers to hold the part-s thereof inproper relative position. y y a In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

WILLIAM D. HARPER.. 

